Patent GB-569136-A (GB)
Title: Speed and clutch controlling means for mechanical power transmission mechanism
IPC: F16H59/04
Filed: 1943-04-27
Abstract: 569,136. Valves. SHELL DEVELOPMENT CO. April 27, 1943, No. 6644. Convention date, April 14, 1942. [Classes 69 (ii) and 135] [Also in Groups XXI, XXIV, XXVI and XXX] In transmission mechanism, comprising a prime mover 1, Fig. 1, and a rotatable member 16 driven thereby through a pressure fluid operated clutch, a single control lever 50 moves a rod 41 axially to actuate a throttle 56 controlling the supply of working fluid to the prime mover 1 and moves the rod 41 angularly to control the supply of pressure fluid to the clutch. As shown applied to a draw-works mechanism for oil and gas wells, the prime mover 1, through a fluid drive unit 2, drives a shaft 5 geared to a countershaft 7 having low and high speed sprockets 9, 10, which drive sprockets 13, 14 free on a shaft 15. A rope drum 16 is fixed to the latter. The control lever 50 is pivoted to an arm 52, Fig. V, on an angularly movable but axially fixed sleeve 43 and to the rod 41 passing freely through the sleeve 43. The latter carries a valve plug 36, Fig. II, working in a casing 30 having fluid pressure and exhaust conduits 20, 25 and pipings 21, 22 leading to friction clutches 18, 19. The lever 50 is movable in an E- shaped guide plate 60, Fig. V, which is arranged so that the clutches can be actuated only when the rod 41 is in the position corresponding to the idling position of the throttle 56, after which the throttle can be opened up. Each clutch comprises a chain wheel 13, Fig. VII, fixed to the shaft 15 and a cup member 74 slidably splined to the shaft 15. Friction facings 72, 84 are attached to the parts. The cup 74 is slidable over a plate 73 fixed to the shaft and has packings 79, 81. The interior of the cup forms a chamber 85 for pressure fluid supplied thereto through a passage 87 in the shaft 15. The clutch is held disengaged by tension springs 91. The fluid drive unit 2 may comprise an impeller 61, Fig. VI, on the engine shaft 63, turbine blades 62 on the shaft 5 and stationary blades 64 in the housing of the unit 2. The lever 50 may control a number of valves as well as the throttle. As shown in Fig. X, a control lever 95 is movable in a double E guide plate 115, is pivoted to an arm 98 on an axially immovable and rotatable sleeve 99 and is pivoted to a rod 96. The latter passes through valves 105, 106 and has a key 102 which can be engaged with a recess in the plugs of the valves. At its end the rod 96 has a cylindrical enlargement 109 which enters a cylinder 110 fixed to the end of a rod 108, the other end of which is connected to the engine throttle. Cylinder 110 has a slot 112 with enlarged ends 113, 114, in which a key 141 on the enlargement 109 engages. Movement of the lever 95 in the slots a, d, e, f, g first operates the valve 106 and then moves the rod 108, due to the engagement between the key 141 and the slot portion 113. When the parts are in the position shown, the lever 95 can be moved to position b. During this movement the key 102 moves to engage the plug of the valve 105 and the key 141 moves into the slot portion 114. The lever 95 can then be moved in the E-slot b, h, i, j, k to operate the valve 105 and rod 108. Further valves and E-slots may be added and the slots 112, 113, 114 extended. Two or more valves may be operated simultaneously by being geared together.